This is a guest post by Sherry Samuels, the Patient & Family Services Coordinator for BTFC. She explains why she so passionately loves her work and devotes so many hours to events such as William’s Walk & Run.

About two weeks ago I was at the hospital delivering gas cards to the family of a 3-yr-old there for treatment. I sat in the clinic room with his mom, grandmother, and the doctor, who chatted about anything and everything to keep him distracted as the nurse accessed his port. It saddened me to think of all this sweet boy had been through since his diagnosis two years ago. I looked at his mom and the courage she had holding her dear child.

As families travel for treatment and clinic visits, we are here to offer financial support. As parents sit through the appointments, we are here to offer moral support. As our kids face discomfort most of us will never know, we are here to sit on the floor and play or make jokes to ease the anxiety. And in the meantime, we are here to support all that we can so that this disease will one day NOT be the leading cancer cause of death in children.

While William’s Walk & Run is named in memory of William Nichols, the staff and board at BTFC along with Dan and Kim Nichols (the parents of William) are all proud to have the opportunity to publicly recognize the amazing children who are valiantly fighting this disease, as well as remember the special children who have become the precious angels reminding us at BTFC why we continue to do what we do for our families!

3 Responses to A Passion for BTFC

Sherry, there are no words to thank you and Mary and all at BTFC. And the fact is y’all do it BECAUSE you love it, and love our kids. You have been there for us (and others) during our happiest times (Christmas, Golf Tourneys!) and thru our saddest times (2 years ago when we almost lost him due to kidneys..not even his brain tumor!). When we see your smile it just seems to make everything better! You and Mary simply radiate joy and hope, and that’s what makes y’all so very special. You have touched our family with your humor (giving John his nickname for one!) One story I will always remember was at the Chateau Elan golf tournament when Conor came running over to us with the autographed UGA football he had been admiring all evening (silent auction) and John was trying to make him take it back to the table, thinking he had taken it! Conor kept saying “It’s mine!” And here you come, running right behind him yelling “NO DAD SOMEONE BOUGHT IT FOR HIM! I PROMISE!” It was too funny! (and very generous of our unknown benefactor!) Anyway, we love you!!
Rhonda, Mac (john) & Conor

Gee Rhonda – You are too kind! But, I do have to agree with you, Mary and I love what we do and the families we are able to offer any ounce of support to. If we’re reminiscing, there are 2 things I’ll never forget. First, I won’t forget meeting Mary for the first time and listening to her passion for BTFC and our kids. And second, I will never forget the 1st time I met Dear Conor and he made sure I knew that he was happy to meet me, as long as I remembered he was Conor with one “n” 😉 I am better because of Conor, Rhonda and MAC!!!

I’m just loving this conversation! Rhonda, you are so kind to say those things. And you, too, Sherry. It really is great work that we are privileged to do and how could we not love it when we get to meet people like Conor and his parents? Conor has a very special place in my heart that will always be there and I, too, remember the first day I met him. It was over in clinic when they held it at the hospital. I first met him in the conference room there. What a wonderful joy he was that day and every day! And Sherry, I could never have a better work partner! Love to all of you!